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LEWISTON, ID - The federal government announced their stance on Washington and Colorado marijuana legalization laws after a long awaited silence.

KLEW News learns how their decision to allow the states to move forward with pot legalization, affects us locally.

For Trendz owner Bill Thomas, the federal governments stance on marijuana means more than just legalization of pot.

"For us that just means an increase in sales," said Thomas. "It's a great moment because it's really taken what Trendz has wanted to be. We've wanted to be mainstream and it's starting to go mainstream."

Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday that the federal government plans to allow both Washington and Colorado to move forward with the legalization of marijuana without any lawsuits from the federal government. This move sets a precedent for the United States and may mean other states could follow with the passage of their own initiatives. But Holder stressed that the states need to keep strict rules and regulations in place. A move that Thomas said he intends to follow.

"Personally we're not going to sell any marijuana at our shop because Sixth Street is too close to school zones," said Thomas.

"Meets the criteria of state law," said Asotin County Sheriff Ken Bancroft. "As long as they stay within those parameters of what the voters put into place that's fine but once they step outside of it then they'll get cited appropriately."

Bancroft said his office will follow the state laws enacted by Initiative-502. However he said the announcement by the federal government doesn't necessarily mean the feds are completely out of the picture.

"Federal law is the problem," said Bancroft. "Waiting to see if the feds cut back on their funding they give the states because we're not following the law."

The Washington State Liquor Control Board will begin accepting I-502 license applications to sell, distribute and grow marijuana on November 18.